The House and Senate have introduced roughly 30 bills this week. Among the noteworthy is a bill that would create a Colorado Agricultural Workforce Services Program in the Department of Agriculture. The program would require the department to maintain an online resource portal for agricultural employees and employers and would create a grant program for agricultural workers with the goal of improving workplaces.
House Bill 1305 — Paid Family Medical Leave Premium Reduction
Description: Paid Family Medical Leave Premium Reduction
Sponsors: Y. Caraveo and M. Gray
Summary: The bill would reduce the premium paid by employers for the state's paid family and medical leave program, starting Jan. 1, 2023, through June 30, 2023. The bill would also require the state treasurer to transfer $57.5 million from the general fund to the family and medical leave insurance fund.
House Bill 1308 — Agricultural Workforce Services Program
Description: Agricultural Workforce Services Program
Sponsors: K. McCormick
Summary: The bill would create the Colorado Agricultural Workforce Services Program in the Department of Agriculture. The program would require the department to create and maintain an online resource portal for agricultural employees and employers. The bill would also create a grant program administered by the department to improve workplaces for agricultural workers.
House Bill 1309 — Hospital Dispense Drugs To Sexual Assault Victims
Description: Hospital Dispense Drugs To Sexual Assault Victims
Sponsors: M. Froelich
Summary: The bill would allow a hospital employee or agent to dispense a seven-day supply of drugs for prophylaxis of sexually transmitted infections to an emergency room patient who is a victim of sexual assault.
House Bill 1312 — Modifications To Sales Tax Statutes To Address Defects
Description: Modifications To Sales Tax Statutes To Address Defects
Sponsors: M. Lynch, S. Woodrow, D. Moreno and R. Woodward
Summary: Sections 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the bill would correct incorrect cross-references to sales tax filing and remittance requirements for direct pay permit holders in local sales tax statutes. Section 5 would correct a reference in the definition of "auction sale" with a more general definition of "sale." Sections 6 and 7 would repeal obsolete provisions.
Senate Bill 161 — Wage Theft Employee Misclassification Enforcement
Title: Wage Theft Employee Misclassification Enforcement
Sponsors: J. Danielson, S. Jaquez Lewis, M. Duran and M. Froelich
Summary: The bill would update and modify laws pertaining to the payment of wages, employee misclassification and workplace safety and the enforcement procedures and remedies for violations of those laws. The bill, among other updates, would change the penalty for failure to provide requested information to the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics from a misdemeanor criminal offense to a daily penalty of up to $50.
